Saturday, February 16, 2008

Scattered Thoughts

So, we're moving. And with moving comes a job. And with a job comes a salary. And with a salary comes a house with a mortgage. And lots of responsibility.

I'm not talking about paying our bills on time kind of responsibility. I am talking about what we are going to do with our new found resources. Our money. It is going to be more than we have ever had before. Did you know this will be Drew's first full time, non-internship job? Except for that one in college, before we were married. So, our lives are going to change. And already, we feel the pressure of the Jones'. But, more I feel the pressure of Christ. I wonder and think how are we going to be faithful with much? I don't want to fail this test. I want to use our resources to give to the glory of God.

I don't know what it all looks like yet and obviously I am not the only one making decisions.

I see how easy, how tempting it will be to settle into a house and start accumulating things. Of course, I would like a new couch, king size bed, bigger table. And I am not saying that getting those things would be bad decisions. I want to know when is enough. I don't want to keep exchanging and upgrading. I want to be satisfied with what I have and where I am now.

I am making some changes in my life. I have decided to stop buying new clothes. Oooohhhh. Breathe in, breathe out. I don't really neeeeed neeeeed them. I know there are some things that I would like to have in my wardrobe. Cardigans, black, white, navy and gray. Denim pencil skit. Black pants that fit. I am going to stick with what I know that I want to add. No more aimlessly wandering the mall, looking for a good deal. I will be doing more shopping at Goodwill or other consignment stores, for myself and the boys. Now, I am not going to be hardcore about this, if I find said items in my size, for a great deal, I won't pass it up. And I will be purchasing all under clothes new, with tags. And shoes, for the boys will be new. I have feet fetish issues with my kids.

I am going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. I have done better about going to bed earlier but my mind and body do not like to get out of bed before 7 am. But when I do, I don't regret it. I get time to read and pray without answering questions in the middle of my prayers. Somedays, I might get to go running if Drew doesn't leave too early.

I am going to do a better job about sticking to our cash budget. Credit cards are very easy to use, especially when I have gone over budget and have to buy something like milk, then to add something else little in is so easy for me. I will not do that anymore.

I am excited to have a house and get new to us things for said house, slowly. I am excited to look around at consignment stores and find things that will work for us. I am excited about my new outlook on life.

And, today I went to Goodwill. No denim pencil skirt. No cardigans. No black pants. No jeans for Sage, size 5. But! I found 5 green cloth napkins for $1.99 and a book for Drew for $1.99. The boys were very good while I looked. Stroller + snack = browsing time for mom.

Know how much I wanted to hop online and order something when I got home? Black pants on sale?! Banana Republic! Still $60? Guess I'll keep looking.

1 comment:

I'm incredibly cheap. I'm probably TOO good at budgeting; sometimes I just need to splurge. I know it's bad when my spendthrift husband tells me that! Do you listen to Dave Ramsey? We do. It's AMAZING how when you follow his principles you always end up with more money at the end of the month than you thought you had - and each month it is so strange because you thought you had it worked out to where you should have just broken even. Like I wrote to you in email; I am working on being humbled by God in sharing our resources. That has been hard for me; I've no idea why. I think just living in the society that we do, it's SO easy to become SO me-focused and to just want things for myself and for the kids, even though I don't consider myself materialistic. It's strange because I feel the pressure more and more; especially when other people have pony parties for their kids' 3rd birthday and we just have the parents over and a few presents. It's all balance, I think, you know? My cousin lives in a HUGE beautiful house and yet she wants more - she was telling me that it never ends, no matter where you are! I have always thought my parents have done a wonderful job of using their resources wisely, and I would love to be like them. Again, it's just finding the balance that's hard. I'm so "savings" focused that sometimes I think we could splurge on this or that and it would be ok, you know?

Wow, I babbled a whole lot. :) Anyway, I'm right there with you. Praying for you guys as you figure it out! You become so proud of yourself as you realize you really can do the budget thing! I love it.